Incinerator



Feb. 9, 1937. M H. ALLEN 2,070,520

INCINERATOR Filed March 2l, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 9, 1937. l* M. H.ALLEN v 2,070,520

INCINERATOR Filed March 2l, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 9, 1937. M, HfALLEN 2,070,520

INCINERATOR Filed March 21, 1935. 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 9, 1937EDATEN'' @FFME INCINERATOR Mark H. Allen, Greenville, S. C., assignor toThe Allen Company, Greenville, S. C., a corporation of South CarolinaApplication March 21,

18 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in incinerators.

An important object of the invention is to provide an incinerator forthe odorless destruction of refuse, such as garbage, industrial waste,mu-

nicipal waste, hospital waste, and high moisture content refuse such assewer sludge and nondigestable sewer accumulations.

A further object of the inventio-n is to provide an incinerator orfurnace of the above mentioned character so constructed that the maximumheat reflection is obtained upon the burning and unburned refuse wherebya high efficiency in operation is obtainable. v

A further object of the invention is to provide an incinerator of theabove mentioned character having means to effect a turbulence of thegases for securing complete combustion and deodorization prior to beingdischarged to the atmosphere.

Other objects and .advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an incinerator or furnace embodying myinvention,

Figure 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the same,

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is .a horizontal cross-section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a similar view taken on line 6--5 of Figure 2, and,

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic plan View, showing the dome construction.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I El designates themain casing of the incinerator or furnace which may be formed of anysuitable material, such as plastic refractory material which will hardenupon being heated, or re brick or blocks. This main casing is preferablyenclosed within an outer casing Il, which may be formed of common brick,and which may be suitably stiifened and held in place by buck stays I2or the like.

The casing or shell l embodies a main combustion chamber I3 which ispreferably rectangular inhorizontal section and somewhat elongated 1935,Serial No. 12,282

and isprovided at its rear end with a stoke passage I4, adapted to beclosed by a door I5, and at its forward end with a stoke or clinkerpassage I6, adapted to be covered and uncover-ed by a vertically movabledoor ll, operating in guides I8. This door is raised by a cable IS,wound upon a spool 20, turned by a hand-wheel 2l, and is returned to theclosed position by gravity. At the bottom of the main combustion chamberI3 is a generally horizontal main drying deck 22, 10 preferably inclinedslightly toward the forward end of the chamber, and disposed forwardlyof the drying deck 22 are horizontal burning decks 23, disposed instepped relation. The burning decks 23 are supported by verticallyarranged 15 grates 24. The decks 22 `and 23 and the vertically arrangedgrates 24 extend throughout the entire width of the main combustionchamber I3 and the vertical grates 2d are preferably anchored within theside walls of this combustion chamber. The vertical grates 24 haveopenings 25 for the passage of air. The burning decks 23 may be formedof blocks, if desired, while the vertical grates may be formed of metalor any other suitable material. The lowermost vertical grate 24 isarranged above and adjacent to a vertical bridge wall 2B, and an ash pit2l is disposed forwardly of the bridge wall and access is had to theends of this ash pit through openings covered by doors 28 or the like.Arranged above this ash pit is a horizontal grate 29, which isstationary or movable, and this grate is disposed in stepped relation tothe lowermost burning platform 23 and is disposed in advance of thesame. The drying deck 22 is imperforate and extends to the end wall ofthe furnace in the direction of travel of the heated 30 gases orproducts of combustion and is attached to such end wall and preferablyformed integral therewith. The burning decks 23 are formed of blocks andare therefore imperforate or substantially so. The burning decks arearranged at different elevations and the grates 24 provide air passagesbetween these decks. By having the drying deck extending to the endwall, the stoke passage i4 may be formed in such end wall and istherefore at the end of the drying deck remote from the burning decks.

The top 3B of the main combustion chamber includes a generallydome-shaped inner surface or wall Sil, constituting a heat reiiectingsurface, disposed to reiiect heat over the entire surfaces of the dryingdeck 22, the burning decks 23 and the grate 29. This inner reflectingsurface 30 is preferably formed in segments 3|, which are longitudinallycurved, but transversely straight, but

the assembled segments produce a generally spherically curved ordome-shaped reiiecting surface. At their bottoms, the segments 3| mergeinto surfaces 32 which are vertical with respect to the platforms 22 and23. The generally spherically curved surface 38 and wall 35i also serveto radiate heat over the drying deck 22, burning deck 23 and grate 29,as is obvious. The top 3S of the main combustion chamber is providedwith a charging opening 33, through which the refuse is introduced insuch a manner as to prevent the escape of the gases from the combustionchamber, a slide door or the like (not shown) being employed to coverthe opening. The charging opening 33 is arranged directly over thedrying deck 22 so that the refuse will initially pass thereon, suchrefuse being moved forwardly through the combustion chamber over theseveral burning decks until the remaining unburned portion passes to thegrate 29, where combustion is completed, the ashes passing into the ashpit 21.

As sho-wn in Figure 7, the surface or wall 3B is spherical or in theshape of a dome, and it rises from the chamber I3, which is an elongatedrectangular figure. The center of the surface 30 is in the centrallongitudinal axis of the chamber I3, but this center is never the rearend of the chamber I3. The center of the domeshaped surface could alsobe equi-distantly spaced' from the ends of the chamber I3. Thedomeshaped surface may rise from a chamber in the form of a square withits center coinciding with the center of the square.

Means are provided for preheating air and supplying air into thecombustion chamber, and causing such preheated air to pass over andbetween the burning decks, and also through the horizontal grate 29,when desired. This means comprises down draft air ducts 34, having draftcontrolling doors 35. These air ducts 34 extend across or in proximityto the main combustion chamber I 3 and are heated by this chamber. Theseair ducts have their lower outlet ends 36 leading into a chamber 31 atthe ends thereof, and this chamber is disposed beneath the burning decks23. The preheated air supplied to this chamber passes through theopenings in the vertical grates 24 and therefore passes between theburning decks 23. Some of this air may also pass through a horizontalduct 38, formed in the vertical bridge also pass upwardly through thegrate 29, and this air, with the products of combustion, then travelrearwardly and upwardly over the burning decks 23 and the drying deck22.

Beneath the drying deck 22 is a gas combustion or deodorizing chamberte, which has no communication with the main combustion chamber, exceptby down flues, to be described. The drying deck 22 constitutes the topof this gas combustion chamber and continues doumwardly in the form of`a vertical bridge wall II I. The numeral #12 designates down ues,communicating at their upper end with the rear end of the ccmbustionchamber I3, at points above the upper surface of the drying deck 22,these fiues 42 passing through the reflecting surface 3o, as shown.

The flues 52 lead downwardly, see more-particularly Figure 4, anddischarge into the gas combustion chamber 4G near the oppositeV endsthereof. This gas combustion chamber is provided with baiiles 43, sothat a turbulence of the gases is effected and complete combustion anddeodorization occurs. The chamber iii has communication at one end witha passage 42, which leads to the stack, and the passage ifi has a damper$4 as shown. The chamber it may have communication at either end withthe stack, or at both ends, if desired.

Chamber I3 is provided with observation ports d5, covered with glass orthe like, and stoke doors 56, which, with stoke doors i5 and il, affordaccess to all. parts of the combustion chamber. Access is also had tothe opposite ends of the chamber 3i through doo-rs fi?, and into theopposite ends of the chamber itl through doors fit. These doors 48 maybe manipulated to supply additional air to the gas combustion chamber48, if desired.

The numeral d@ designates burners, adapted to use as fuel, natural gas,artiicial coal gas, sewer gas, or oil. These burners serve to promotecombustion and to raise the temperature of the main furnace sufficientlyhigh to assure the complete burning of all combustibles. They also serveto supply secondary air into chamber I3, to effect combustion.

The operation of the incinerator or furnace is as follows:

The burners t9 are set into operation which supply flames for initiallyheating the furnace and promoting combustion, such burners being alsoemployed to supply secondary air. High moisture content refuse isintroduced into combustion chamber i3, through the charging opening 33without the escape of any considerable amount of heated gases, and isrst supported upon the drying deck 22, and is worked forwardly over theburning decks 23 and the final unburned residue passes to the grates 2Qwhere the burning is completed. Air passes in wardly through the flues34 and travels downwardly therein and is preheated and enters thechamber 3l. Such preheated air passes through the openings in thevertical grates 2Q and travels forwardly between the burning decks andthen enters the combustion chamber I3. This air passes rearwardly overand in contact with the refuse upon decks 22 and After the refuse uponthe deck 22 becomes sufficiently dried, it is worked forwardly over theburning decks 23 by implements which may be inserted through the stokeopenings Iii or it or through the opening I. When passing over theburning decks the dried refuse is subjected to intense heat and isconsumed for the greater portion, but the residue passes upon the grate29, where the combustion is completed, preheated air being suppliedbeneath this grate through the passage 38 upon the manipulation of thedamper t9. During this drying and burning operation of the high watercontent refuse, combustible gases and vapors are driven off and becomemixed with the products of combustion and pass through the down iiues 42and enter the gas combustion chamber QB. When within the chamber fill,these gases ignite producing an intense heat which raises thetemperature of the drying deck 22 so that it is efficient in drying therefuse. The chamber 4E) has the baffles (i3 arranged therein so that thecombustible gases are caused to travel in a tortuous path and turbulenceof the same is effected, which aids in the complete combustion anddeodorization. The combustion of these gases is completed in the chamberit as stated, and a proper damper may be installed in the passage 44, toproperly regulate the egress of the gases to the stack so that thebridge 22 will have proper heat exchange with the gases. By virtue ofthe dome-shaped surface 30 of the top of the combustion chamber, themaximum reflection of heat upon the burning and unburned refuse isobtained, which materially aids in the proper combustion of thematerial. It is to be understood the form of my invention herewith shownand described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without de parting from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an incinerator, a casing having a main combustion chamber, abottom for the combustion chamber including a main drying deck andburning decks arranged in stepped relation, the burning decks havingopenings arranged between them for the passage of` air, the combustionchamber having a top provided with a generally spherically curved innersurface for transmitting heat over all of the decks, and also having acharging opening for feeding the material upon the drying deck, meansfor providing an airreceiving chamber beneath the burning decks andhaving communication with the openings between the burning decks, saidcasing having down flues for preheating air and supplying the same intothe air-receiving chamber, means for providing a gas combustion chamberbeneath the drying deck, said casing having ducts which lead from themain combustion chamber above the drying deck and into the gascombustion chamber beneath the drying deck.

2. In an incinerator, a casing having a main combustion chamber, abottom for the combustion chamber including a drying deck and burningdecks arranged in stepped relation, means for providing openings betweenthe burning decks, the combustion chamber including a top having aninner curved heat transmitting surface, means providing an ash pitwithin the casing in advance of the lowermost burning deck and openingsleading into the ash pit, a grate covering the ash pit, means providingairreceiving chamber beneath the burning decks and having communicationwith all of said openings, said casing having air preheating fluesleading into the air-receiving chamber, means for providing a gascombustion chamber beneath the drying deck, means for effecting theturbulence of gases within the gas combustion chamber, means ofcommunication between the main cornbustion chamber and the gascombustion chamber, and material inlet means leading into the combustionchamber above the drying deck.

3. In an incinerator, a casing having a main combustion chamber, abottom for the combustion chamber including a drying deck, burning decksand a grate disposed in stepped relation, means for providing anair-receiving chamber beneath the burning decks and openings between theburning decks and an opening extending beneath the grate with all of theopenings in conimunication with the air-receiving chamber, a top for themain combustion chamber having an inner generally spherically curvedsurface extending over all of the decks and the grate, said top having acharging opening so that material may be fed upon the drying deck,burners arranged within the combustion chamber and disposed near theburning decks, preheating ues for introducingl preheated air into theair-receiving chamber and extending across the sides of the maincombustion chamber, means for providing a gas combustion chamber beneaththe drying deck, baiies disposed within the gas cornbustion chamber toeffect the turbulence of the gases, and a duct communicating with themain combustion chamber and with the gas combustion chamber.

4. In an incinerator, a casing having a main combustion chamber andprovided near one end with a stoke opening and near the opposite endwith a stoke opening, doors for covering the openings, a bottom for thecombustion chamber including a drying deck, burning decks and a gratedisposed in stepped relation between said openings, means ior providingan ash pit beneath the grate, means for providing an air-receivingchamber beneath the burning decks and openings between the burning decksand an opening leading into the ash pit with all of the openings inCommunication withk the air-receiving chamber, a damper for controllingthe passage of air through the opening leading into the ash pit, meansfor supplying preheated air into the airreceiving chamber, a top for themain combustion chamber having an inner surface which is generallyspherically curved and extends over the drying and burning decks andgrate, said top having an opening above the drying deck for the passageof material thereon, burners arranged within the main combustion chambernear the burning decks, and means for providing a gas combustion chamberbeneath the drying deck and having communication with the combustionchamber.

5. In an incinerator, an elongated casing having .a main combustionchamber provided at one end with an elevated stoke opening, a door tocover the opening, a bottom for the main combustion chamber comprising adrying deck arranged adjacent to the stoke opening and burning decks anda grate which are arranged in stepped relation with each other and withthe drying deck and leading downwardly from the drying deck, means forsupplying air between the burning decks and through the grate, such airtravelling upwardly over the burning decks and drying deck, a top forthe combustion chamber having a generally spherically curved innersurface for transmitting heat over the drying deck, burning decks andgrate, said top having an open ing for feeding material upon the dryingdeck, burners arranged within the combustion chamber near the burningdecks and means for providing a gas combustion chamber beneath thedrying deck, said gas combustion chamber hav! ing a flue which leadsfrom the main combustion chamber near and above the drying deck.

6. In an incinerator, a casing having a main combustion chamber providednear one end with an elevated stoke opening, .a door to cover theopening. a bottom for the main combustion chamber comprising a dryingdeck disposed adjacent to the Stoke opening and burning decks and agrate which are arranged in stepped relation with each other and withthe drying deck and leading downwardly from the drying deck, means forpassing air at different elevations between the burning decks andthrough the grate, such air travelling upwardly over the burning deckand drying deck, a top for the combustion chamber having an opening fordischarging material upon the drying deck, burners arranged within thecombustion chamber near the burning decks, and means forming a gascombustion chamber beneath the drying deck and having communication withthe main combustion chamber near and above thedrying deck.

7. In Ian incinerator, a casing having a main combustion chamberprovided near one end with an elevated stoke opening, a door to coverthe opening, a bottom for the main combustion chamber comprising asubstantially imperforate drying deck disposed adjacent to the stokeopening and substantially imperforate burning decks and a grate whichare arranged in stepped relation with each other and with the dryingdeck and leading downwardly from the drying deck, means for passing airat different elevations between the burning decks and through the grate,a top for the combustion chamber having an opening for charging materialupon the drying deck, burners arranged within the combustion chambernear the burning decks, and means for exhausting gases from thecombustion chamber at a point near and above the drying deck. A

8. In an incinerator, a casing having a main combustion chamber, abottom for the combustion chamber including a substantially imperioratedrying deck and substantially imperforate burning decks arranged instepped relation, and having means disposed between them at differentelevations for the passage of air, and a top for the combustion chamberhaving an inner generally spherically curved surface.

9. In an incinerator, a casing having a main combustion chamber, abottom for the combustion chamber including a drying deck and burningdecks arranged in stepped relation, said casing having means by whichmaterial maybe fed upon the drying deck and worked therefrom over theburning decks, means for passing air at different elevations between theburning decks, burners arranged within the combustion chamber near theburning decks, a top for the combustion chamber having an innergenerally spherically curved surface, and means for exhausting gasesfrom the combustion chamber at a point near and above the drying deck.

l0. In an incinerator, a casing having a main combustion chamberincluding a wall toward which the heated gases travel, a bottom for themain combustion chamber comprising an irnperforate drying deck extendingto the wall in the direction of travel of the heated gases,substantially imperforate burning decks and a grate arranged in steppedrelation with each other and the drying deck and extending downwardlyfrom the drying deck, means for introducing air into the main combustionchamber to support combustion, a top for the combustion chamber havingan opening for feeding material to be burned upon the drying deck, meansproviding al gas combusthe main combustion chamber at a point above thedrying deck.

l1. In an incinerator, a casing having a combustion chamber including aWall toward which the heated gases travel, an imperforate drying deckextending to the wall in the direction of travel of the heated gases andhaving associated therewith means to permit of the deposit of materialthereon to be burned, the opposite end of the drying deck being spacedfrom the Wall of the casing remote from the first named wall, asubstantially imperforate burning deck and a grate arranged in steppedrelation with respect to the burning deck and disposed between the freeend of the drying deck and the last named wall, means for supplying airinto the combustion chamber to support combustion therein, means forproviding a gas combustion chamber beneath the drying deck, and a ductleading from the gas cornbustion chamber into the main combustionchamber.

12. In an incinerator, a casing having a combustion chamber including awall toward which the heated gases travel, an upstanding wall arrangedwithin the casing and spaced from the top of the casing and the firstnamed wall and the wall of the casing disposed opposite and remote fromthe first named wall, a drying deck eX- tending from the upstanding wallto the first named wall in the direction of travel of the heated gases,means including the drying deck and upstanding wall for providing a gascombustion chamber beneath the drying deck, said drying deck havingmeans associated therewith to permit of the feeding of material to beburned upon the drying deck, a burning deck and a grate arranged instepped relation to each other and disposed between the upstanding walland the remote opposite wall, means for supplying air into thecombustion chamber to support combustion therein, and a duct leadingfrom the gas combustion chamber into the main combustion chamber.

13. In an incinerator, a casing having a cornbustion chamber including awall toward which the gases travel, an upstanding wall arranged withinthe casing and spaced from the rst named wall and the wall of the casingdisposed opposite to and remote from the iirst named wall, a drying deckextending from the upstanding wall to the rst named wall in thedirection of travel of the heated gases, means including the drying deckand upstanding wall for providing a gas combustion chamber beneath thedrying deck, said drying deck having means associated therewith topermit of the feeding of material to be burned upon the drying eck, aburning deck and a grate arranged in stepped relation to each other anddisposed between the upstanding wall and the remote opposite wall, theburning deck having an air passage therebeneath which leads into thecombustion chamber and means providing an air passage which dischargesbeneath the grate, means for supplying air to said air passages, and aduct leading from the gas combustion chamber to the main combustionchamber.

14. In an incinerator, a casing having a combustion chamber, a dryingdeck arranged therein and having means associated therewith to permit ofthe deposit upon the drying deck of material to be burned, a pluralityof burning decks and a grate arranged in stepped relation to each otherand to the drying deck and extending downwardly from the drying deck,the burning decks having air passages beneath the same which lead intothe combustion chamber at diferent elevations and means providing an airpassage discharging beneath the grate, means for supplying air to all ofthe passages, means for providing a gas combustion chamber beneath thedrying deck, and means of communication between the gas combustionchamber and the first named combustion chamber.

15. In an incinerator, a casing having a combustion chamber including awall toward which the heated gases travel, an imperfcrate drying deckextending to said wall and having associated therewith means to permitof the deposit of material thereon to be burned, the opposite end of thedrying deck being spaced from the wall of the casing remote from the rstnamed wall, a substantially imperforate burning deck and a gratearranged between the free end of the drying deck and the last named wallwith the burning deck disposed next to the drying deck,'

the burning deck and grate being disposed at an elevation beneath theupper surface oi the drying deck, means for supplying air into thecornbustion chamber at a point adjacent to the burning deck and next tothe drying deck so that the air passes over the burning deck uponentering the combustion chamber, means for providing a gas combustionchamber beneath the drying deck, and means cf communication between thegas combustion chamber and the main combustion chamber.

i6. In an incinerator, a casing having a combustion chamber including awall toward which the heated gases travel and a second wall remote fromthe rst named wall, an imperforate drying deck extending to the firstnamed wall and having associated therewith means to permit oi thedeposit of material upon the drying deck, the opposite end of the dryingdeck being spaced from the second wall, a substantially imperforateburning deck and a grate arranged between the free end or" the dryingdeck and the second named wall with the burning deck next to the dryingdeck, the burning deck and grate being disposed at an elevation beneaththe upper surface of the drying deck, means providing an air receivingchamber disposed adjacent to the drying deck and having communicationwith the combustion chamber at a point near the upper surface of theburning deck, means for supplying air into the air receiving chamber,and outlet means for the combustion chamber.

17. In an incinerator, a casing having a combustion chamber, animperforate drying deck arranged within the combustion chamber andhaving means associated therewith to permit of the deposit of materialthereon, a substantially imperforate burning deck and a grate arrangedto receive material passing from the discharge end of the drying deckand disposed at an elevation below the upper surface of the drying deck,the burning deck being arranged next to the drying deck, means providingan .air receiving chamber arranged near the drying deck, a verticalgrate disposed adjacent to the burning deck and extending across aportion of the air receiving chamber, means for preheating air andsupplying the same to the air receiving chamber, and outlet means forthe combustion chamber.

18. In an incinerator, a casing having a combustion chamber, anupstanding wall arranged therein, an imperforate drying deck arrangedwithin the combustion chamber and connected with the upstanding wall andhaving means associated therewith to permit of the deposit of materialthereon, a substantially imperforate burning deck and a grate arrangedto receive material passing from the discharge end of the drying deckand disposed at an elevation below the upper surface of the drying deck,the burning deck being arranged next to the drying deck, means forproviding a gas combustion chamber beneath the drying deck and upon oneside of the upstanding wall and an air receiving chamber upon theopposite side of the upstanding wall, the air receiving chamber beingdisposed next to the burning deck and projecting above the same forcommunication with the combustion chamber, means for supplying air intothe air receiving chamber, and means of communication between the gascombustion chamber and the main combustion chamber.

MARK H. ALLEN.

